Title
Department of Transportation recommending the Board take the following actions:
1) Approve the El Dorado County Local Road Safety Plan as prepared by Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.; and
2) Commit to achieve a significant decline in roadway fatalities and severe injuries to an eventual goal of zero by 2050 to align with California’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan.
FUNDING: State Local Roadway Safety Plan Funds (44%) and Local Road Fund (56%).
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Federal regulations require each State has a Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP). A SHSP is a statewide data-driven traffic safety plan that coordinates the efforts of a wide range of organizations to reduce traffic accident fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads. In coordination with Federal, State, Local, and Private sector safety stakeholders, the SHSP establishes goals, objectives, and emphasis (or challenge) areas. California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has a SHSP in place but now requires all Local Agencies that wish to pursue future Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds (of which Caltrans receives several million dollars each year) to have a Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) in place before they can apply for additional HSIP funds.
A County-wide LRSP has been prepared in conjunction with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. (Kimley-Horn) that organizes a data-driven traffic safety plan and coordinates efforts within the community to reduce traffic accidents - especially fatalities and serious injuries - on all public roads.
An LRSP website was launched early in the process that allowed the public to submit comments regarding safety issues on County roads.
In addition, Kimley-Horn included a group of local stakeholders to ensure that local perspective was kept at the forefront of planning. The stakeholder group consisted of County staff representing engineering, education and transit, as well as representatives from the California Highway Patrol. Stakeholders provided local insight and knowledge through project workshops and met in the field to visit 12 priority locations in El Dorado County. Potential safety countermeasures were recommended for each location and discussed at a follow-up field review meeting.
The LRSP has been certified the Director of Transportation on September 1, 2022, as required by Caltrans and the State to be able to purse HSIP funds. In addition to Director certification HSIP regulations strongly encourage Board approval.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board may elect to not approve the LRSP. While this will not prevent Transportation from applying for and receiving HSIP grant funds, having the LRSP approved will be beneficial for grant review and approval at the State level.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
On April 19, 2022, Legistar File 22-0370, the Board approved the creation of a County-wide LRSP to be drafted and finalized by Kimley-Horn.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no direct change to net County cost associated with this item. Funding for the LRSP was provided by State Local Roadway Safety Plan Funds and Local Road Fund.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Priority: N/A
Action Item: N/A
CONTACT
Rafael Martinez, Director
Department of Transportation